Sock stretcher



ec. 3l, m46.

B. A. Gr-:AR`

SOCK STRETCHEH Filed sept. 12, 1945 j@ INVENTOR.

@ze UCE A. Ganz? Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEA 2,413,305 SOCK STRETCHER Bruce A. Gear, Les Angeles, Calif.

Application September 12, 1945, Serial No. 615,857

12 Claims.

This invention relates to stretchers for socks and stockings, to be used in preserving the size and shape of a sock or stocking while it is drying after having been washed.

An object of the invention is to provide a sock or stocking stretcher arranged to operate in a novel and extremely simple manner. The invention contemplates the use of a form comprising telescoping parts one of which is shaped to iit into the foot of thel stock to be stretched and the other of which is shaped to t into the leg of the sock, together with means for clamping the leg of the sock to the leg part of the form and a screwjack device for extending the leg portion of the form so as to apply tension to the sock.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a sock stretcher having the characteristics set forth in the preceding paragraph, an extremely simple and quickly operable clamping device for clamping the leg of the sock to the leg of the form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sock stretcher which may be easily put into the sock and does not have any projecting parts that would catch in the material of the sock. Prior devices have been subject to the objection that they embodied projecting parts that were likely to catch in the material of the sock, interfere with the smooth insertion of the form into the sock, and in some cases tear the sock. The present invention obviates these objectionable features.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sock stretcher embodying a stretching jack that is concealed within the stretching form.

Another object is to provide a sock stretcher that is extremely durable and sturdy in construction.

A further object is to provide a sock stretcher that is pleasing in appearance. v

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing specication, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sock stretcher embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal transverse sectional view of the stretcher;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the stretcher taken in the plane of the foot portion of the stretching form;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the stretcher;

Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the stretcher;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the foot portion of the stretcher taken on the line B-B of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a. detailed sectional view of the clamp mechanism taken on the lines 'I-'I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same detail,

parts being broken away and one of the clamps being shown in the raised position;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional View of the same taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view of a modied form of the clamp mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of the same taken on the line II-II of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view of another modification of the clamp mechanism.

As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, I have shown in the drawing a sock stretcher embodying a twopart, telescoping form having the general outline of the sock to be stretched and including a foot member I2 and a leg member I3. The form members I2 and I3 may be constructed out of any suitable material of adequate thickness and strength, such as cast metal or molded plastic. I prefer to use molded plastic because of the more pleasing appearance that it gives the nished article.

The foot member I2 has cutout apertures I4 therein which facilitates the circulation of air to the foot portion of the sock being stretched and thereby hasten the drying process. The foot member I2 also includes a shank portion I5 over which is telescoped the sleeve portion I6 of the leg member I3. As shown in Fig. 3, the shank portion I5 includes a thickened central rib section I'I and thinner web portions I8 on either side thereof. The crossectional shape of t-he leg member I3 conforms to this crossectional shape of the shank portion I5 having central ridge portions I 6' that are raised above the side portions thereof. The thickened rib section I'! is continued at I1' through a major portion of the length of the foot member I2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and the marginal areas of the foot member I2 are in the form of relatively thin webs I8. Extending along the margins of the apertures I4 are raised beads I9, which assist the ridge portions I 6 and rib portions I'l' in holding the sock away from the surface of the :formV and thereby promote the circulation of air through the sock for drying the same. The thickened rib portion I1 accommodates a hole 20 extending longitudinally therein. The side marginal areas of the Webs I8 of the foot member I2 and the side marginal areas of the webs I8 of the leg member I3 cooperates to dene the periphery of the stretching form. The Wall of the sleeve member I 6 is tapered gradually to a thin end edge 2I at the inner extremity thereof.

Where theshank member I5 joins the foot member I2, the latter is provided with a laterally thickenedankle region 22 having at its upper extremity a shoulder 22 that extends entirely around the foot member I2 and is substantially iiush with the edge 2I of the sleeve I6 so as to which is pressed into a counterbore 25in"the' outer extremity of the hole 20. The vscrevv shaftv 23 extends into the hole 20. At its outer end, the screw shaft 23 has an annular flange 26 and a pair of bearing surfaces 21, 28 disposed at either side of the fla-nge. The flange 26 and bearing surfaces 21, 28 are rotatably mounted in a split bushing 29 which is mounted in an opening 30 in the end wall 3I of the leg member I3. The split bushing members 29 have ange members 32 which abut the outer end surface of the end wall 3| and, at their opposite ends, have reduced externally threaded neck portions 34 onto which is threaded a locknut 35.

At this point it may be noted that in assembling the screw shaft 23 in the leg member I3 of the form, the split bushing members 29 are placed in embracing relation to the bearing surfaces 21, 28 and the flange 26, and the assembly of bushing members and shaft is then passed into the opening 30, which confines the bushing sections 29 against spreading. The assembly is then secured in place by tightening the nut 35 on the threaded members 34 within the sleeve I5. The shank member I5, with the threaded bushing 24 installed therein, may then be applied to the end of the shaft 23, and the shaft 23 is then rotated to draw the threaded bushing 24 thereover and to draw the shank member I into the sleeve I6.

Rotation of the screw shaft 23 is effected by means oi a handle 33 to which is attached the shank end 36 of the shaft 23. This attachment may be accomplished by molding the handle 33 onto the shank end 36.

Carried by the sleeve member I6 are a pair of clamps each comprising a yoke 31 formed of wire and having side arms 38 provided, at their ends, with inwardly extending trunnions 39 and connected by a central region comprising a jaw 40.. When the yoke is in a clamping position, the. jaw 4U cooperates with a channel 4I in a respective side of the sleeve member I6. The sidearms 38 are attened and knurled to facilitate'their being grasped between the fingers, for manipulating the clamps. The trunnions 39 of the respective clamping yokes 38 are received in sockets 42 in the end wall 3I of the leg member I3. The trunnions 39 of one yoke are arranged side by side with the trunnions 39 of the other yoke, and each of these pairs of trunnions is acted upon by spring means which is effective to press the jaws against the channels 4I, and when the jaws are open, to hold them open. Merely as an example of one form in which such spring arrangement may be embodied, I have shown in Figs. '7-9 an arrangement wherein the trunnions 39 are each encircled byV a spring 43. One end of each spring 43 is attached to the trunnion 39 of one of the yokes. This may be accomplished by bending the ends of the springs 43 inwardly as at `4I! and extending the bent ends 44 into.. openings 45 ini the trunnions 39 asshownin Fig; '1. .The other end of each spring 4 3fs attached to a screw;46zthat is threaded into the bottom wall ofy the socket 42. The sidesv of the :screw 4.6 are flattened as at 41,-and the inner ends of the trunnions 39 are flattened as at 48. When the clamps are in their closed positions, the cylindrical surfaces of the trunnions 39 are in engagement with the flats 41 of the screw 46, and the clamps are held snugly in the channels 4I by the tension of the springs 43, tending to uncoil these springs.

With the ats 48 of a clamp yoke 38 engaged against the flats 41 of the screw 46, the yoke will be held vin the outstanding position of the upper yoke shown in Fig. 4. This position is also indicated in Fig. 8, in broken lines. The flats are heldin engagement with each other by the pull of the coil springs 43 toward the screws 46. This is a lateral pull which is developed as the-result of flexing of those portions 490i springs 43 which extend from the coil portions 50 offthe springs to the screw 46.

A modified form of the clamp tensioning means is shown in Fig. 10. In this modication, the trunnions 39a. are journalled in the bottom wall of the socket 42a as indicated in Fig. l1, and the intermediate portions of the trunnions 39a are attened to provide cams 5I that extend radially from the axes of the trunnions 39a as shown in Fig. 10, and engage the inner face of a split ring spring 52. When the cams 49 are in their positions shown in Fig. 10, they will be maintained therein by the embracing pressure of the spring 52, and the clamp yokes will thereby be yieldingly pressed against the channels 4 I. When the clamp yokes are moved to the position indicated in broken lines at 53, the pressure against the cams 5I will be on center and the clamp yokes will be thereby held in these positions with light restraining force.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a further modification of the clamp tensioning mechanism. In this modification, the trunnions 39h are dat as shown and are each fulcrumed at one edge in an end region 54 of the socket 42D which is in this case oval shaped. The opposite edges of the trunnions 39h are yieldingly engaged by an elliptical spring 55 which is compressed as the jaws are swung from their open positions (shown in Fig. 12) to their closed positions, and Vice versa. During such movements the trunnions 39h will passdead center with reference to the pressure of the spring 55 against them, and consequently they will be yieldingly held either in the open or the closed positions as the case may be. Spring 55 is in the form of an open ellipse, and the central or web portion thereof is adjacent the ends of the trunnions 39h when the jaws are in their closed positions. The pressure against the trunnions in these positions is thus greater than the pressure against the trunnions when the jaws are in the open position. This is desirable, since more spring pressure is required in the closed positions of the jaws than in the open positions thereof.

In using my improved sock stretcher, the sock is first slipped over the foot member I2 and the leg portion of the sock is drawn up over the sleeve I6. With the yokes 38 in their open positions, the open end of the leg portion of the sock is drawn over the channels 4l, andthe yokes are then sprung inwardly to engage the sock in the channels 4I. The handle 33 is then rotated until the slack in the leg portion of the sock is taken up, and the sock may then be permitted to dry. l f I '-Il claim as thy-invention: j

1. 'A stretching and drying device for stockings comprising a two-part form including a* foot member and a leg member extensibly connected to each other, means carried by the leg member to clamp the open end portion of a sock to said leg member after the stocking has been drawn over the form; and screwjack means for extending the foot portion from the leg portion so as to take up the slack in the stocking.

2. A stretching and drying device for stockings comprising a two-part form including a foot member and a leg member extensibly connected to each other, means carried by the leg member to clamp the open end portion of a sock to said leg member after the stocking has been drawn over the form, and screwjack means operable when said stocking is thus drawn over the form, to extend the foot portion from the leg portion so as to take up the slack in the stocking.

3. A stretching and drying device for stockings comprising a two-part form including a foot member and a leg member extensibly connected to each other, opposed spring clamps carried by the leg member to clamp the open end portion of a sock to said leg member after the stocking has been drawn over the form; and screwjack means for extending the foot portion from the leg portion so as to take up the slack in the stocking,

4. In a stretching and drying device for stockings, a two-part form including a foot member having a shank and a leg member comprising a sleeve telescoped over said shank; and an end wall at one end of said sleeve; clamp means carried by the end of said leg member for clamping thereto the open end of a stocking that has been drawn over the form; and means extending through said end wall and co-acting with said shank portion of the foot member to extend the foot member away from the leg member and thereby take up the slack in said stocking.

5. In a stretching and drying device for stockings comprising a two-part form including a foot member having a shank portion and a leg member telescopically associated with said shank portion; means for clamping to the end of said leg member remote from said foot member, the open end of a stocking that has been drawn over said form; and means for extending said foot member from said leg member to take up the slack end of said stocking, said last means including a screw shaft extending through said shank portion and leg member longitudinally thereof and a nut threaded upon said screw shaft, and a handle at the outer end of said screw shaft for rotating same.

6. In a stretching and drying device for stockings; a two-part form including a foot member having a shank and a leg member including a sleeve part .telescoped over said shank; and an end wall at the outer end of said sleeve; clamp means carried by the end of said leg member and adapted to clamp thereto the open end of a stocking that has been drawn over the form; and a screw shaft extending longitudinally through said end wall and into said shank portion and co-acting with a threaded bushing in said shank portion to extend said foot member from said leg member to take up the slack in said stocking.

7. In a stretching and drying device for stockings; a two-part form including a foot member having a shank and a leg member including a sleeve portion telescoped over said shank and an end wall; a pair of spring urged clamps pivoted in said end Wall and adapted to yieldingly embrace the sides of said sleeve portion so as to clamp thereagainst the open end portion of a sock that has been drawn over said form; and a screwjack for extending said foot member from said leg member so as to take up the slack in said stocking, said screwjack comprising a threaded shaft journalled in said end wall and projecting therethrough, a threaded bushing mounted in the end of said shank and threaded upon said shaft; and a handle attached to the projecting end of said shaft and disposed at the end of said leg member.

8. A stretching and drying device as defined in claim 6, including a split bushing mounted in an opening in said end wall and having an internal annular channel receiving a radial flange that is formed integrally on said shaft.

9. In a stretching and drying device for stockings, a two-part form including a foot member having a shank and a leg member including a sleeve portion telescoped over said shank and an end wall portion, said leg member and foot member having central rib portions extending longitudinally thereof and web portions projecting laterally on either side of said central rib portion; means carried by the end of said leg member remote from said foot member for clamping thereto the open end of a sock that has been drawn over said form; and screwjack means extending longitudinally through the central rib portion of the shank part of said foot member and forming a connection between said foot and leg members for extending said foot member from said leg member to take up the slack in said stocking.

10. A stretching and drying device as dened in claim 9, wherein said sleeve portion of the leg member tapers to a relatively thin edge at its end adjacent said foot member, whereby to substantially blend the surface of said leg member with that of said foot member.

11. In a stretching and drying device for stockings, the combination of a two-part form including a foot member and a leg member extensibly connected together; means for clamping the open end of a stocking drawn over said form, to the end of said leg member remote from said foot member, said last means comprising a pair of yokes having central portions adapted to bear against the sides of said leg member and having end trunnions extending inwardly; sockets in said leg member into which said trunnions are extended; and spring means in said sockets and coacting with said trunnions to urge said yokes into engagement With said leg member.

12. In a stretching and drying device for stockings, a form over which the stocking may be slipped; and a plurality of spring clamps for clamping the open end of the stocking to said form, said clamps being yoke shaped, having end trunnions pivoted to said form, having interme-v diate jaw portions for engaging the sock against the form, and having side arms connecting said jaw portion to said trunnions and adapted to function as handles for manipulating the clamps; and spring means acting between an adjacent pair of trunnions of the respective clamps, adapted to yeldingly apply clamping pressure to said jaws in the closed position of the clamps and to hold the yokes in an open position when they have been moved to the open position.

BRUCE A. GEAR. 

